Belt-buckle



L. SHIELDS.

BELT BUCKLE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9. 1920.

Patgnted Apr. 12,1921,

fl, llllllllll INVENTOR.

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UNITED stares PATENT or ce LOWELL w. SHIELDS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YoRK, ASSIGNOR '10 HIoKo MANU'EAc- TUBING COMPANY, YORK.

rivogor ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW BELT-BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

Application filed September 9, 1920. Serial No. 409,103.

To all whomrit may concern:

Be it known that I, LOWELL W. SHIELDs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belt- Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to belt buckles and moreparticularly to the type in which a buckle frame is provided formed with side flanges having inwardly extending portions for confining the belt end, combined with a clamping member whlch Wlll clamp the belt end under such inwardly extending portions, an object of this invention being to provide a novel means for mounting the clamping means on the side flanges so that a maximum space may be provided between the pivot of the clamping member and the front plate of the buckle while at the same time permitting the mounting of the pivot pin in the side flanges without increasing the distance between the inwardly turned portions and the front plate of the buckle.

To these and other ends the invent1on consists of certain parts and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter described, the novel features being pomted out in the appended claim.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a front View of a buckle constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the buckle;

Fig. 3 is a rear face view;

Fig. 4: is an end view;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section showing the clamping member in unclamped position- Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the clamping member in clamped position;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of one end of the buckle frame showing the clamping member removed; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the clamplng member.

In the manufacture of belt buckles of the type heretofore mentioned, difficulty has been experienced in mounting the pivoted clamping member 'at the proper distance from the front plate so as to accommodate thick straps without making a buckle of such a width as to cause the buckle to appear bulky or without arranging the pivotal clamp ng member in such a position that it appears consplcuous from its flange side.

According to this invention it is possible 7 to reduce the w1dth of the sides to a mini-' mum-while at the same time the pivoted clamplng member has its axis of turning located at such a distance from the front plate that a thick belt may be held without making the clamping member conspicuous from the sides.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, 1 indicates the front plate of the buckle frame which has side flanges 2 formed with inwardly turned pro ectlons or portions 3. The front plate s curved or bulged at its center while the inwardly turned projections or portions 3 aresubstantially straight, so that, at the center of the buckle, the distance between V the inwardly turned portions and the front plate is greater than at the ends of said inwardly turned portions, thus facilitating the passage of the strap end between the front plate and the overhanging projections'3f In order to provide for the pivotal mountmg of the clamping member 4, the side flanges 2 are provided beyond one end of each of the inwardly turned portions 3 with projectlons 5 which extend in rear of the inwardly projecting portions 8. These extensions are formed with inwardly turned arched or curved flanges 6. A pivot pin 7 connects the projections 5 and on this pivot pin the clamp 4; turns, this clamp being 1 preferably formed from a single piecev ofsheet metal bent to provide a clamping port on 4? and a strap securing portion 4; which 15 perforated or cut to provide an opening 4 to which the belt end Sis secured. The

clamping member also has ears 4; at opposite ends of the clamping portion 4 bent upwardly and perforated. Through these 7 perforations the pivot pin 7 extends. The

sides of these perforations abut the arched or curved flanges 6 on the projections 5 and limit the longitudinal movement of the clamping member on the pivot pin 7 From the foregoing it will be seen that the pivot of the clamping member is arranged atrsuch a distance fromtherear face of the front plate that it is possible to clamp a belt end of maximum thickness and this without increasing the width of the side.

flanges or rendering the buckle conspicuous from the side, 7, 7

What I claim as my invention and. desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A belt buckle comprising a front plate, side flanges having inwardly turned portions and also portions extending rearwardly beyond said inwardly turned portions at one end or each of said inwardly turned portions, said rearwardly extending l0 portions having arch shaped inwardly turned flanges, the ends of the latter nearest the side flanges merging into said side flanges, a pivot pin connecting said rearwardly extending portions, and a pivoted 15 clamp supported on said pin and abutting said arch shaped inwardly turned flanges.

' LOWELL W. SHIELDS. 

